trek 29er cost

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Trek 29er Mountain Bikes

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• 29-Inch Wheel (29ers)

What is a 29er?   29er refers to a mountain bike wheel size standard that measures (with tires mounted) about 29 inches in diameter.  It's currently the largest standard wheel size available. 29ers are crazy fast because the bigger wheels cover more ground with every single pedal stroke.  Big wheels also create a shallow approach angle when riding over obstacles making it easier to keep speed through those white-knuckle techy sections.  Plus, more tire tread contacting the ground provides better-than-ever traction.

Who is it for?  29ers are by far the most popular wheel size used on Ogden trails.  They're found on the most popular bikes we sell like the Trek Fuel EX.  They make riding a bike off-road easier.  Any rider who wants a smoother, faster, more stable ride with more traction should test ride a 29er.

Feel like 29ers are a bit too much to handle? No worries, check out our inventory of Trek 27.5-inch bikes.

Want to learn more about Trek bikes?  Take a look at our Trek Bikes Buyer's Guide .

Review Of Trek Marlin 5: Budget-Friendly MTB for Beginners

T rek Marlin 5 is a phenomenal, trail-ready 29er that costs little and gets the job done on different types of surfaces, including paved and unpaved roads.

Beginner riders are often faced with a tough dilemma — purchase a versatile and comfortable city bike to commute or a real MTB to have fun and embark on off-road adventures.

With Trek Marlin 5 Gen 2 , you can do both. This 29er has the ruggedness of a true trail-blazer but has the ability to double as an everyday workhorse to take on short urban commutes.

One of Marlin 5’s biggest advantages is the low price. This bike costs just $720 , which puts it in the budget category. Still, there’s a lot to be excited about even with such an attractive price.

Trek Marlin 5 Quick Overview

Marlin 5 main features, is trek marlin 5 the right choice for you, verdict: worth the money (or not), trek marlin 5 (2022).

Marlin 5 is characterized by an excellent off-road-ready aluminum frame, cushy front suspension, burly wheels and tires, hydraulic disc brakes and a lot more.

It’s one of the best-valued models from the Marlin series, offering multiple improvements compared to the lower-priced Marlin 4. Some of these are better brakes, better hubs, and a better bottom bracket.

It’s an entry-level bicycle, most suitable for beginner riders who plan to do a little bit of everything and too much of nothing.

• Frame : Alpha Silver Aluminum
• Fork: SR Suntour XCT 30, 100 mm
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Altus M315
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Altus M310
• Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors
• Rims: Bontrager Connection, double-wall
• Tire Size: 27.5″ / 29″ x 2.20″
• Weight: 13.97 kg / 30.81 lbs

See All Specs on Marlin 5 Product Page

If you have a budget of $740 to spend on your next trail bike, Marlin 5 is pretty much the most you can get in this category.

Trek is known for bikes that have good value to money, so this Marlin series model has some worthy components and does not make too many compromises.

Lightweight Alpha Silver Aluminum Frame

Trek Marlin 5 has the same Alpha Silver Aluminum frame seen on all bikes from this lineup. It is characterized by a versatile head tube angle of 69.5 degrees. That’s a good compromise between steep and slack geometry. That means this bike will perform well in most conditions, including climbing, descending, and cornering.

Light, durable, and comfortable Alpha Silver Aluminum frame is Marlin 5’s biggest selling point, seen on other more expensive bikes from Trek’s MTB lineup.

All cables are internally routed which makes them last longer and improves the overall appearance of the bike. Riders can add a rear rack and a rear kickstand, which would make Marlin 5 ready for daily commutes as well.

You can get Marlin 5 in four modern and attractive colors: Lithium Grey, Radioactive Red, Volt to Miami green fade, and Azure. They’re beautiful!

Springy SR Suntour Fork

Marlin 5 is equipped with a low-ranked SR Suntour XCT 30 fork with a coil spring. This fork is quite heavy but beginner riders without too much off-road experience will like it because it provides plenty of comfort.

When it comes to adjustability, just the preload function is available, so you can dial the fork to your liking and ensure a more comfortable ride and better responsiveness.

It’s important to note that the XS frame size comes with 80 mm of travel, whereas all other frame sizes have 100 mm of travel in the fork.

Best Feature: Hydraulic Disc Brakes

The feature that will make all Marlin 5 owners happy is the hydraulic disc brakes . This is the biggest improvement compared to the cheaper Marlin 4 which comes with mechanical disc brakes.

Hydraulic disc brakes present a major increase in stopping power and precision . They require less strength input from your fingers but offer more braking power output.

Trek has gone a step further and equipped the smaller frame sizes with short-reach brake levers to accommodate short riders with smaller hands.

Delicate Shimano Derailleurs

The main points of improvement on Trek Marlin 5 are its derailleurs. Compared to the previous releases, Marlin 5 has Shimano Altus components

Depending on how you take care of them, they might last you for years and miles to come. However, if you’re not careful and you shift under tension or you fall off your bike and smash them, they might give you some headaches.

Still, that’s not something an average rider planning to take Marlin 5 out on weekend adventures and weekday commutes should worry about. Plus, updating to higher-value Altus, Acera, or Alivio groupsets is not a big investment.

Beefy Bontrager Wheels and Tires

Last but not least, the beefy Bontrager wheels and tires are some of the first things you will notice on your Marlin 5. The 13.5″ and 15.5″ sized frames come with 27.5″ wheels, whereas all larger frames come with 29″ wheels.

The wheels are Bontrager Connection. They have 32 spokes, so they are quite strong, and they’re double-walled which means they can withstand some beating.

The Bontrager XR2 tires are 2.20″ wide on 27.5″ wheels. However, when it comes to 29″ wheels, the rear is narrower at 2.0″.

These wheels and tires are a bit heavier than ideal , but once you get them going, they’ll take you wherever you direct the handlebars.

Geometry & Sizing Table

We especially like it because it’s good at more than one thing.

Trek Marlin 5 is not strictly a trail-specific bike that would feel sluggish in all other settings. It’s equally efficient on both paved roads and dirt roads.

However, its wide tires, massive wheels, and capable hydraulic disc brakes still make it more suitable for riders who plan to spend more time in forests and on mountains than on smooth city streets.

Other Marlin Models

• Marlin 4 – MSRP $630 – Has a lightweight aluminum frame, 21 gears, 100 mm of front suspension, and strong mechanical disc brakes.
• Marlin 5 – MSRP $740 – Combines a light aluminum frame, plush SR Suntour suspension, entry-level Shimano drivetrain, and powerful hydraulic disc brakes in a good-looking trail package. Men and women-specific models available.
• Marlin 6 – MSRP $850 – This model is built with an Alpha Silver Aluminum frame, a 1×10 mid-range Shimano drivetrain, burly tires, and comes with 100 mm of front suspension travel with lockout. It’s available in men’s and women’s versions.
• Marlin 7 – MSRP $1,030 – Trek’s race-worthy model with an Alloy frame, superior RockShox front suspension, quality 1×10 drivetrain, Shimano components, and improved Shimano hydraulic disc brakes.

To the right buyer, Trek Marlin 5 is definitely worth the money . This is a lot of bike for just $740, specifically when it comes to the components. The hydraulic disc brakes increase the value of the bike, as well as the high-quality aluminum frame.

However, if you value every cent and you don’t intend to tackle steep hills or ride in wet weather, you can save and get Trek Marlin 4 with mechanical disc brakes and slightly lower-ranked hubs and bottom bracket.

Get Directly From TrekBikes.com

Or see best Trek bikes

• Alpha Silver Aluminum frame
• Powerful hydraulic disc brakes
• Good price-to-value ratio
• Attractive colors

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30 thoughts on “ review of trek marlin 5: budget-friendly mtb for beginners ”.

My wife and I just bought 2 29 inch Lithium Gray Marlin 5 Gen 2 bikes. So far so good other than a flat tire I experienced but that’s not Treks fault by any means. We like the weight and the smooth ride it has.

Trek 5 is my 1st Mountain Bike I have been riding it 3x a week Doing some hard bush trails. It really seems to handle all trails well. No one knows that my bike isnt really expensive . They all say “love your bike ” I just love my bike but will upgrade to a better Trek when I have obtained more skills. Thanks Natalie

Hi Natalie, Well as they say, a Trek is a Trek. The brand itself speaks for itself. It also depends on the kind of ride you do.

lol “my son doesn’t abuse his bike he just broke all of the most easily abused parts of it”

Hi Boknows, Sounds like a future athlete there 😉

Very helpfull!!! , thanks dude!

I am 15 and got my trek Marlin 5 a couple years ago. I have ridden some insane tracks on it and haven’t really had any issues. The only thing I’ve broken so far is the derailer hanger but apart from that nothing. I use it for riding on streets, dirt roads and mountain bike tracks of different difficulties including black diamond tracks. It is still working great and I would think of it as a good bike. I found that the seat post was originally at my good pedaling height when I got it at its lowest point but have now upgraded that to dropper.

Hi Jayden, Have you tried getting a regular maintenance check with your local bike shop? Regular maintenance check can help prolong the life of a bike 😉

I bought a 29″ blue Marlin 5 for my son’s 14th birthday 16 months ago and initially I really liked it. But, it’s been a flaming pile of broken parts since then. My son doesn’t abuse this bike (no downhill or big jumps) and mainly rides a few miles into town and occasional wheelies. Since new here’s the things that have broken on it: rear shifter cable, rear axle, right pedal stripped out of crank arm, left pedal stripped out of crank arm, rear axle again, right pedal stripped out of crank arm again and the chain broke (which pulled the rear rerailer into the spokes and ruined it). Our closest Trek dealer is an hour away so running to the bike store is a real issue but they have been pretty good about helping me out. I’m a metal fabricator and part time motocross bike mechanic so I have a good background in metals and how they should operate. I honestly feel Trek has build a cheap bicycle with metal parts using allows that aren’t appropriate and as thin as materials as possible to save weight at the cost of reliability. I just called Trek directly and we’ll see where that goes.

Hi Dough, Sorry to hear about your experience. It looks like your drivetrain and the whole groupset have issues. Usually these are the most abused parts of the bike and an upgrade to better parts will do better. However I am curious as to what they will tell you. Let me know about it. Cheers!

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Trek 29er Mountain Bikes

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29-Inch Wheel (29ers)

Explore our 29-inch mountain bikes and find a fast-rolling, trail-crushing ride that will inspire tons of confidence. We carry great 29ers in a variety of price points from top brands like Trek, Santa Cruz, and Yeti so you can find the perfect model for your style and budget. 29-inch wheels have higher top speeds and they roll over obstacles better than smaller wheels, so if you want to give yourself an edge out on the trail, 29ers are often the way to go.

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Trek Rumblefish Elite 29er Full Suspension

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Fantastic bike. I would recommend for street riding (jumping stairs and curbs... e.t.c).

Brakes overheat very fast that’s all

It wery suitable for a big guy like me. I do all terrin, but usually a bumby terrin close to home. I use it 3-5 times a week, normally about 20 miles “roughly 30 km”

Could anyone please let me know If you guyes if you know if any of the Shimano Di2 system World/fits the rumblefish.? I cant Seem to figure it out.

the kinematic/rear end construction and the damper a good alloy frame and yes, the weldseams are on other frames better

the configuration of the bike the wheelset is a j..e XT-brakes and complete XT-shifting would clarify the price of the bike but they aren´t on it the fork, isn´t stiff enough .

i own the bike since may 2012 i´m happy with it. works really well but i upgraded the front suspension to 140-150mm (beside many other parts) ... ok the seattube angle could be better now but it isn´t a problem when you pedal uphill i ride primarily single trails, sometimes steep stuff downhill, sometimes technical, sometimes little jumps (max. 1/2 metre high - europe metrics) alloumtain if you wanna but it in this MTB riding mode average tours 20-60 km depending how much time i have also in winter good suspension - fox/trek DRCV damper similar to a coil spring damper maybe i buy in the near future a rockshox debonair (available from the fuel ex 29, should fit in the rumblefish) to try another fabricate the advertising description of trek´s ABP (dave weagle calls it splitpivot) "Our patented Active Braking Pivot allows your suspension to work freely whether you’re on the brakes or off. It’s smooth, controlled suspension that’s at its best all the time." is not really so good workin´ ... don´t get me wrong it´s stiff and reliable but if you brake the damper doesn´t work so well like it´s descriped in the text above or in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ByO7WI_Vvg but it´s not so negative when you ride the trail real fast and that´s one of the advantages of the bike the good working kinematic of the bike in relation with the damper takes every obstacle and makes you smile ! i often thought about an upgrade to the fuel ex 29 but why? is it really stiffer (shorter seattubestays) ? in my opinion: NO is the trek full floater in combination with ABP, DRCV or Monarch RT3 debonair damper better ? in my opinion: YES, a little bit but it´s really good reliable bike (much better than many other i had in the past) the weakness of the bike is the fork the drcv damper in it is also working well but when it get´s steep it blows through the stroke a bit and you have not enough travel or call it: rollover effect/feeling a good low speed compression would help i made a testride with the pro model and the RLC fox on it works better it´s also not so stiff ok, the manitou tower isn´t also as stiff as the fox 34 (whatelse!) or a rs pike but ... maybe these are only my personal opinions and efforts of making the rumblefish elite even better :)

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29inch: i owned the specialized stumpjumper fsr comp 29 2011 & 2012 tested 2 days the niner rip 9 2011 and santa cruz tallboy c 2011 for a few hours and many 29er hardtails (also have a kona taro 2013)

Solid feel, DCRV suspension, handling

stock tires & grips

I rented the bike first for a test ride and didn't want to give it back. I have also test ridden the Pivot Mach 429 but didn't feel the added cost was worth it. It hasn't really improved my times on my regular trail rides, but it has significantly improved my confidence. When a friend with the bike told me about the benefits of the thru axle, I didn't get it until I rode the bike hard - I didn't realize how much the QR axles on my 26er flexed. I replaced the stock grips before I took the bike out the first time, and had the stock wheels & tires converted to tubeless when I bought the bike. I plan to upgrade to Stan's Flow or Arch when I have beat up the stock Bontrager Duster rims. I was leery of the Shimano SLX components that came on the bike, but so far they are performing great. I will upgrade to XT or XTR when they fail, but so far, so good. I also plan to install a remote dropper seat post, but that's an upgrade I wouldn't expect on a bike at this price point. The only negative I have experienced is that I have more pedal strikes with this bike than my 26er, but am told that this is normal for 29ers with this type of geometry, and I am learning how to avoid them...

Pivot Mach 429

Fast & Fluid!!

Like most 29ers, a few pedal strikes in technical terrain.

I was down to this bike or the Giant Trance X 1, I picked the Trek just because of the positioning of the rear shock on the Giant and man am I glad I chose the Rumblefish. I have owned the bike for about 6 rides now and I am on average 15% faster on all of my 1.5+ hour rides. I am finding that I utilized the CTD control on the rear shock a lot and love it. The dual chamber shock system is great! This bike is fast and fun. My only complaint is the rear tire seems to break loose in hard braking, but that's easy fixed with new rubber. This bike flys and it just seems to always want to keep on moving :)

Smooth ride, plush suspension, corners surprisingly well, great kit, zero unwanted flex anywhere, makes me feel like I am a good mountain biker when I am not, you don't really feel the weight, climbs like a champ

paint chips somewhat easily, recommend some sort of paint protection

I got mine on sale so the value is great. By far the best bike I have ever owned.

The over-all geometry of the bike likes to be written and puts the rider and weight perfectly over the wheels for speedy well balanced cornering, climbing and stable plush descents. While descending the ABP gives you a secure stable feeling of control...thought it was a gimmick at first, but its amazing how plush the braking is while hammering down hill. I'm still trying to feel the shocks DRCV advantages....it just works and I don't know the difference with or without. While it takes a bit to get up to speed on the climbs...it gives it all back in the flats and the descents like riding a LazyBoy recliner! Take some time to play with your shock settings as you can dial in almost any ride preference, style preference. I ended up raising the pressure in the fork and dropping it in the rear shock for a nice ride that likes to get gnarly and aggressive in the descents. Tons of funs stable riding wit da fish!

A little heavy at 29-30 pounds, but tubeless and a few weight tweaks and your loving the bike. It made me a better rider, and now I don't feel the difference from my hard tail unless I'm on a LONG climb.

Plain and simple it's a great all mountain bike that loves Moabs epic rides AND the Whole Enchilada. If you love the simplistic joys of mtn biking this bike is for you....if your trying to race pro.....then go carbon. Test drive this bike.....you will take it home! NOTE: I test drove a Pivot Mach 5.7 and well........I think the ride is a little better at half the cost!

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Trek Cobia 29er review

Mid-range big-wheeler

T he Trek Cobia is part of the Gary Fisher collection, a name synonymous with mountain biking innovation . In the eight years since Fisher first unleashed the 29er concept, the big wheel size has become legal on the race circuit and won over a generation of riders in the US. UK riders have been rather more reluctant to jump on board, but 2011 looks like it might just be a watershed in 29er history. The Cobia represents the new guard of 29in-wheeled bikes – subtle, light, well specced and vying for a slice of the 26in action.

Ride & handling: Great all-round trail hardtail that’s faster and smoother than the 26in competition

Although the long top tube/short stem basics of Fisher’s proprietary Genesis geometry have been much copied over the years, there’s little doubt that only a Fisher really rides like a Fisher. Much of that is down to the G2 evolution of the original Genesis concept, which reduces the fork’s trail with a custom offset crown in order to sharpen up slow speed handling.

Early 29ers didn’t always convince in the front end handling department, needing plenty of notice if you wanted to turn and making them a handful in fast, tight and twisty singletrack. The Cobia’s G2 front end all but neutralises the extra inertia of the larger front wheel and gives it a nimbleness that’s likely to shatter a few preconceptions. Stable and confidence-inspiring at speed, a last-ditch change of direction is just a dropped shoulder away.

And all this user-friendliness comes with added big wheel easy-rolling, which delivers easier technical climbs, faster descents and more comfortable cruising. Downsides? The frame lacks the springy sprightliness of the best of the 26in competition. Despite its impeccable handling, it’s still marginally less chuckable in the tight and twisty stuff than a really well sorted 26in bike. Er, and you’ll need to carry 29er inner tubes. But that’s about it.

In terms of handling, practicality and spare parts availability the 29er has come of age. Those big diameter tyres roll noticeably easier along the trail, giving the Cobia’s rider both a smoother ride and the option of putting the hammer down and dropping the 26in competition. It’s not the lightest bike for the price, and that does blunt its overall performance slightly. But the excellent fork, sorted geometry and decent kit list should put it near the top of your all-day trail bike shortlist.

Frame & equipment: Great fork for the money but frame lacks the lively feel of the best at this price

Big wheels roll faster over trail obstacles. That’s a (more or less) quantifiable fact that underpins the existence of the 29er breed. But big wheels also take up more space, so fitting them into a frame that works isn’t quite as straightforward as shoehorning them into an existing chassis. Eight years of development mean that geometry and tyre clearance wrinkles have been pretty much ironed out.

To the untrained eye, the Cobia looks like a regular bike with oddly-proportioned wheels. Subtle hydroforming and butting puts strength where it’s needed but keeps the bike’s weight down to about the same as most of its 26in rivals. Not bad for a bike that’s starting with heavier wheels and forks. Braceless stays leave enough room for the rear wheel to keep turning in the filthiest of conditions, although clearance below the fork’s brace isn’t nearly as generous.

The Cobia comes outfitted with different width Bontrager tyres – a 2.25in at the front and a 2.0in at the rear. It’s an old trick that adds comfort and cornering grip under the fork and better wet weather grip and mud clearance through the rear stays. But if you don’t like it, 29er tyre choice is much better than it used to be. A functional mix of SRAM and Shimano components take care of the transmission, while the Promax brakes work better than you might expect once they’ve bedded in.

The cheap-feeling Bontrager bar features a pronounced backward sweep that initially feels odd, but combined with the Cobia’s proprietary G2 geometry it's surprisingly comfortable. The ace up the Cobia’s sleeve is the custom 29er RockShox Recon air-sprung fork. Air is lighter than a coil spring, adjusts for a wider range of rider weights and styles and works better, most of the time.

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Trek Brings Big Wheels to Speedy Fuel EX 29

We pushed the racy 120mm trail bike to its limits on technical Arizona trails

The new EX 29 uses Trek’s rocker-link suspension, which was previously reserved for the brand’s 26-inch models. (Sterling Lorence)

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